Total knee arthroplasty and distal femoral replacement in young patients with bony neoplasm: complications, survival and patient-reported outcomes.

Abstract

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and distal femoral replacement (DFR) can be used in limb-salvage after resection of bony tumors, but few reports have examined patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) with survival data in young patients. This study analyzed individuals who underwent TKA/DFR for neoplasm at a young (≤40) age, to report outcomes and survival experience. A retrospective study on 12 TKAs/23 DFRs was conducted between January 1990-2020 in 35 patients ≤40 years old. Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify patients with neoplasm, and collect data. Patients were contacted to obtain PROMs. The median age (interquartile range) at surgery for TKAs and DFRs was 26.7 (22.7-34.0) and 24.6 years (20.9-28.4), respectively. Median follow-up was 3.95 (0.33-8.14) and 3.01 years (1.72-6.07). TKAs were more commonly due to complications after allograft reconstruction (75.0% vs. 0.00%, p < 0.0001), had lower blood loss (250 vs. 800 ml, p = 0.01) and a higher rate of tourniquet use (75.0% vs. 34.8%, p = 0.04). Revision-free survival (8-year) was 54.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 13.7%-83.3%) for TKAs and 37.9% (95% CI: 10.4%-66.0%, p = 0.12) for DFRs. For TKAs, median KOOS Jr. was 76.3 (76.3-79.9), VR-12-Physical was 50.0 (40.5-51.7), VR-12-Mental was 40.8 (32.6-45.8), LEAS was 12.0 (12.0-13.0), and FJS was 23.0 (19.0-25.0), without statistical difference from the DFR group. Patients ≤40 years old who underwent TKAs/DFRs for neoplastic disease demonstrated a similarly high postoperative complication rate and poor long-term survival. Almost all PROMs were favorable, reflecting a more promising postoperative experience than survival curves might demonstrate.